Wetlands are of great cultural and spiritual significance to Maori. They provided Maori with food – wildfowl, tuna (eels) and other freshwater fish. They were also places to grow taro and harvest harakeke (flax) and other materials for medicinal, food, building and crafts. Despite their great natural wealth, wetlands are still largely a forgotten habitat with their importance under-rated. Over 90 percent of New Zealand’s wetlands have been drained or filled. The National Wetland Trust (NWT) is working to reverse this trend, and to increase knowledge, appreciation and understanding of the value of wetlands.